Chapter 1:
The Weight of a Dream
Gam'lor
Matt dreams of becoming an Ichiro, but destiny demands a price greater than he ever imagined paying.
---
*** The Ichiro Army
They said the Ichiro were the blade that kept humanity from extinction.Men who trained until their bones shattered. Soldiers who marched for days without sleep. Warriors who swore to spill their last drop of blood for everyone’s survival.
Their uniforms, adorned with silver crests, gleamed like crowns of glory. The metallic rhythm of their boots echoed like thunder across the training fields, while the scent of iron and sweat mingled with the northern winds.
Men envied them. Women desired them. Children idolized them.But to become an Ichiro… one had to walk through hell.
Out of every hundred candidates, only one survived.
And even before that cruel statistic, Matt still dreamed.He dreamed of wearing that uniform.He dreamed of being remembered as someone capable of protecting the world.
Closing his eyes, he felt the cold wind brush his face. For a fleeting instant, he almost believed he already carried the weight of that responsibility—one he had yet to earn.
---
*** The Village and Alonso
That afternoon, the village bustled with the fair.The old fisherman shouted, waving fresh fish as if it were a weapon:
— These youngsters only know how to dream! Dreams don’t fill stomachs!
Matt, struggling with two heavy buckets of water, muttered under his breath:— Says the man who must’ve dreamed once too…
The fishmonger woman pointed her fillet knife at him:— And you, boy? When will you stop being a burden to your mother? Can’t even carry water properly!
A child snickered behind her:— Matt will never be an Ichiro! He doesn’t even have muscles!
Matt bit his lip, ready to snap back. But before he could, a firm hand landed on his shoulder.
It was Alonso.Twenty years old, skin bronzed by the sun, a lazy grin, and eyes that annoyed as much as they charmed.
— Hey, you lot, — he said with irony. — If you’ve got so much energy to criticize, why not use it to help carry something?
The old fisherman grumbled:— Alonso… shouldn’t you be training instead of playing hero at the market?
Alonso shrugged theatrically:— Training is boring. I’d rather fish… sleep… or eat.
Matt smiled, unable to hold it back:— Everyone knows you were once one of the best Ichiro cadets.
The young man winked with a half-smile:— Once. Now I’m on medical leave. My body won’t keep up… but my charm is still in top form.
Laughter spread through the fair.And for a brief moment, the weight crushing Matt felt lighter.
He breathed deeply, soaking in the sunlight on the rooftops and the scent of fresh wood from the stalls. Maybe… maybe there was still hope.
---
*** Matt’s Dream
That night, their small wooden house radiated simplicity.In the kitchen, his mother washed dishes. In the corner, his little sister played with a worn-out doll, smiling despite their poverty.
Matt spoke, heart burning:— If I join the Ichiro army… we’ll never go hungry again. I’ll protect you both.
His mother sighed, not turning to him:— Matt… I don’t want to lose you too.
His little sister clapped her hands with certainty:— I believe in Matt! He’ll be the strongest Ichiro in the world!
He smiled, ruffling her hair:— I promise. To both of you.
Later, under the dim light of a lamp, he filled out his application form for the exam.Every stroke of the pen felt like it weighed a ton.Every word carried a piece of his soul.
Fear gnawed at him.But determination burned stronger than doubt.
---
*** The Attack on the Civilians
At dawn, an unnatural mist crept through the village streets.Doors slammed shut, mothers clutched their children, and whispers of fear spread faster than the fog itself.
From the darkness, two towering Horrors emerged. Their Bantu masks glowed with eerie blue eyes, and every step they took warped the air with a low, distorted hum.
— The energy is here, one murmured, voice cracking like thunder inside broken skulls.— Buried beneath this land, the other finished.
The attack was instant. Houses exploded into flames, screams echoed, and the earth trembled beneath terror.
Though weakened by illness, Alonso rushed ahead of the crowd.— Stay behind me!
His movements were sluggish, but still carried the fire of an Ichiro.For a brief moment, the masked beasts faltered, unsettled by his defiance.
Then, when a blast was fired toward Matt, Alonso hurled himself forward.The strike tore through his body.
— N… no! Alonso! — Matt’s voice cracked in despair.
On his knees, coughing blood, the warrior still managed a smile.— Matt… don’t let our fire die.
The second strike was devastating.Matt was thrown into the rubble.
When he opened his eyes… horror seized him.His arms were gone.
The mist swallowed the masked invaders.And silence consumed the village.
Pain pulsed through him. His heart raced.Hopelessness froze every fiber of his being.
And in that silence… a new nightmare was born.
🌟 End of Episode 1 🌟
👉 "If you enjoyed it, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a like to support Gam’lor!"👉 "Your comment can help me improve each episode 🙏"
---
*** The Ichiro Army
They said the Ichiro were the blade that kept humanity from extinction.Men who trained until their bones shattered. Soldiers who marched for days without sleep. Warriors who swore to spill their last drop of blood for everyone’s survival.
Their uniforms, adorned with silver crests, gleamed like crowns of glory. The metallic rhythm of their boots echoed like thunder across the training fields, while the scent of iron and sweat mingled with the northern winds.
Men envied them. Women desired them. Children idolized them.But to become an Ichiro… one had to walk through hell.
Out of every hundred candidates, only one survived.
And even before that cruel statistic, Matt still dreamed.He dreamed of wearing that uniform.He dreamed of being remembered as someone capable of protecting the world.
Closing his eyes, he felt the cold wind brush his face. For a fleeting instant, he almost believed he already carried the weight of that responsibility—one he had yet to earn.
---
*** The Village and Alonso
That afternoon, the village bustled with the fair.The old fisherman shouted, waving fresh fish as if it were a weapon:
— These youngsters only know how to dream! Dreams don’t fill stomachs!
Matt, struggling with two heavy buckets of water, muttered under his breath:— Says the man who must’ve dreamed once too…
The fishmonger woman pointed her fillet knife at him:— And you, boy? When will you stop being a burden to your mother? Can’t even carry water properly!
A child snickered behind her:— Matt will never be an Ichiro! He doesn’t even have muscles!
Matt bit his lip, ready to snap back. But before he could, a firm hand landed on his shoulder.
It was Alonso.Twenty years old, skin bronzed by the sun, a lazy grin, and eyes that annoyed as much as they charmed.
— Hey, you lot, — he said with irony. — If you’ve got so much energy to criticize, why not use it to help carry something?
The old fisherman grumbled:— Alonso… shouldn’t you be training instead of playing hero at the market?
Alonso shrugged theatrically:— Training is boring. I’d rather fish… sleep… or eat.
Matt smiled, unable to hold it back:— Everyone knows you were once one of the best Ichiro cadets.
The young man winked with a half-smile:— Once. Now I’m on medical leave. My body won’t keep up… but my charm is still in top form.
Laughter spread through the fair.And for a brief moment, the weight crushing Matt felt lighter.
He breathed deeply, soaking in the sunlight on the rooftops and the scent of fresh wood from the stalls. Maybe… maybe there was still hope.
---
*** Matt’s Dream
That night, their small wooden house radiated simplicity.In the kitchen, his mother washed dishes. In the corner, his little sister played with a worn-out doll, smiling despite their poverty.
Matt spoke, heart burning:— If I join the Ichiro army… we’ll never go hungry again. I’ll protect you both.
His mother sighed, not turning to him:— Matt… I don’t want to lose you too.
His little sister clapped her hands with certainty:— I believe in Matt! He’ll be the strongest Ichiro in the world!
He smiled, ruffling her hair:— I promise. To both of you.
Later, under the dim light of a lamp, he filled out his application form for the exam.Every stroke of the pen felt like it weighed a ton.Every word carried a piece of his soul.
Fear gnawed at him.But determination burned stronger than doubt.
---
*** The Attack on the Civilians
At dawn, an unnatural mist crept through the village streets.Doors slammed shut, mothers clutched their children, and whispers of fear spread faster than the fog itself.
From the darkness, two towering Horrors emerged. Their Bantu masks glowed with eerie blue eyes, and every step they took warped the air with a low, distorted hum.
— The energy is here, one murmured, voice cracking like thunder inside broken skulls.— Buried beneath this land, the other finished.
The attack was instant. Houses exploded into flames, screams echoed, and the earth trembled beneath terror.
Though weakened by illness, Alonso rushed ahead of the crowd.— Stay behind me!
His movements were sluggish, but still carried the fire of an Ichiro.For a brief moment, the masked beasts faltered, unsettled by his defiance.
Then, when a blast was fired toward Matt, Alonso hurled himself forward.The strike tore through his body.
— N… no! Alonso! — Matt’s voice cracked in despair.
On his knees, coughing blood, the warrior still managed a smile.— Matt… don’t let our fire die.
The second strike was devastating.Matt was thrown into the rubble.
When he opened his eyes… horror seized him.His arms were gone.
The mist swallowed the masked invaders.And silence consumed the village.
Pain pulsed through him. His heart raced.Hopelessness froze every fiber of his being.
And in that silence… a new nightmare was born.
🌟 End of Episode 1 🌟
👉 "If you enjoyed it, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a like to support Gam’lor!"👉 "Your comment can help me improve each episode 🙏"
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